It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Czajka Care Group’s Managing Director, Konrad Czajka, who is also Chair of the Bradford Care Association.
The Chancellor’s budget caused alarm and distress for the Social Care Sector with the announcements regarding the National Living Wage (6.7% increase), Employer NIC from April 2025 (increase from 13.8% to 15%), and the threshold decrease from £9,100 to £5,000.
The reaction from the Social Care Sector was swift and loud— it would threaten the future viability of the 11,544 Homecare Services and 14,970 Residential and Nursing Home Providers registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC).
In 2024 the report from Lord Darzi stated that Social Care is in a dire state. There have been cuts to Local Authority budgets, £8 billion since 2010, with fewer and fewer people funded while demand has risen, and older people are stuck on acute wards.
Social Care is a vital service and in 2025 the Government needs commitment to real change. There is a commitment to reform the NHS, and billions is being spent whilst only £600 million in grant funding is being allocated for Social Care in 2025-26.
It is vital that both sectors are reformed at the same time. Reforming the NHS without reforming Social Care is like rebuilding a house without mending the roof!
In 2025 investment in the Social Care workforce will be a priority. Social Care employs 1.5million people, that’s more than the NHS, and vacancies are running at 8.9% which equates to 110,000 vacancies. Domestic recruitment will remain a challenge as workers are attracted to higher paid and less demanding jobs. Social Care will need thousands more care workers with the right skills and values over the next 15 years (430,000 extra posts by 2035).
A workforce strategy in 2025 would be welcomed, but the staffing crisis in Social Care will not end until pay rates rises are aligned with the NHS. International recruitment will continue to be the main driver of the increase in filled posts and a possible fall in vacancies.
In 2025 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will face increased scrutiny over its inspection and ratings processes. Past issues raised have included inconsistent inspection outcomes, delayed reports, and questions about the assessments. People depend on CQC ratings to make informed decisions about care options. Hopefully, for 2025, due to the appointment of Sir Julian Hartley as Chief Executive, CQC will work with the Care Provider Alliance (CPA) to improve the inspection levels, clinical expertise among Inspectors, consistency in assessments and deal with the problems of CQC’S IT system.
Finally, failing to fix Social Care will mean failing to fix the NHS. Hopefully the Government will reassess the £600 million grant funding, develop a long-term financial strategy to account for inflation and will increase engagement with Social Care Providers and all stakeholders including the Local Authorities. In 2025 Social Care will continue to be a vital service but it needs the support it deserves.
